This article comes to us from our friends at UrbaMonde.  Please visit their site at https://www.urbamonde.org/en/urbadtk-senegal

The urbaDTK project aims to develop the capacity of urban planning of the residents of marginalized neighborhoods. The project has its origins in an initiative of a collective of associations of the Djiddah Thiaroye Kao municipalities, which has been exploring sustainable solutions to the regular floodings of the periphery of Dakar since 2005. Currently, the project is being implemented by the Senegalese Federation of Inhabitants, members of Slum Dwellers International, and with the support of urbaSEN, its local support NGO.

Phase 1 (2010 – 2013)  Reduce flooding and real estate risks through coordinated planning

• Strengthen the capacities of the inhabitants in implementing an urban redevelopment project (EIG of urban redevelopment)
• Formalize the proposals of inhabitants within an urban development plan and a priority investment plan
• Reduce land tenure risk through land registry and municipal census
• Facilitate the revival of groundwater pumping through a concertation process integrating public, municipal, scientific and civil society actors.

Phase 2 (2014 – 2017) Rebuild 300 flooded houses

• Strengthen community savings targeted to habitat projects (women’s saving groups)
• Support residents in project management
• Strengthen the capacities of local craftspeople
• Support the development of a national federation with the aim to represent the interests of the inhabitants of marginalized communities.